Official 2018 TCS Amsterdam Marathon Discussion Thread

Thanks, I had not been able to find it.

How tf is a 2:52 female considered elite?

Ozbilen is a 1500 runner, do you nominate your own times to get a guernsey?

mimi belete is supposed to be running toronto this weekend and already debuted in hamburg

Aussiestatman wrote:

mimi belete is supposed to be running toronto this weekend and already debuted in hamburg

oops, wrong m.belete

Stem cells wrote:

How tf is a 2:52 female considered elite?

Local elite. Probably just got a free start. Or maybe they're expecting bigger things. Happens a lot in Europe.

Aussiestatman wrote:

Ozbilen is a 1500 runner, do you nominate your own times to get a guernsey?

Sure, why not?

Yurp wrote:

Stem cells wrote:

How tf is a 2:52 female considered elite?

Local elite. Probably just got a free start. Or maybe they're expecting bigger things. Happens a lot in Europe.

Yes. I like when a big race supports local elites or even grassroots runners who want to become better. The only place that happened for me, was 2007 at the 20k championships. I was 1:07 HM and I was treated well. I think if more races did this, we would have more grassroots elites, and you never know who would flourish. Isn't that how Des Linden made it? Hansons gave her a chance?

Yes. I like when a big race supports local elites or even grassroots runners who want to become better. The only place that happened for me, was 2007 at the 20k championships. I was 1:07 HM and I was treated well. I think if more races did this, we would have more grassroots elites, and you never know who would flourish. Isn't that how Des Linden made it? Hansons gave her a chance?

Agreed. A free bib, starting spot at or near the front and a few amenities normally afforded to elites can go a long way toward not just saving hundred bucks or more on entering, but it's a great morale booster as well. Also keep in mind that like many of us regular runners, there are plenty of elites with disproportionate PR's. She might be a 2:52 marathoner, but has run a 32 minute 10k.

Incidentally, she's run a 1:15 HM, so the bib assignment seems reasonable. No less surprising than the guy who has run 2:31 but is grouped with guys who are a full minute per mile faster.

Aussiestatman wrote:

Ozbilen is a 1500 runner, do you nominate your own times to get a guernsey?

Different Ozbilen. The 1500 guy is Ilham Tanui (b. 1990) , the marathoner is Kaan Kigen (b. 1986) Set his 2:06 PR in 2016 (Seoul) and has marathons going back to 2013. Started on the track ... 12:58 in 2006, 27:03 in 2012.

So, debuts for both Mesret Defar AND Linet Masai. Who you got?

El Keniano wrote:

So, debuts for both Mesret Defar AND Linet Masai. Who you got?

Defar has not run a marathon yet? I'm surprised by that. I like Defar. Masai strikes me as too tall to be successful at the marathon.

El Keniano wrote:

So, debuts for both Mesret Defar AND Linet Masai. Who you got?

Defar is one of the greatest women runners ever. This is way overdue, and I'm almost as excited to see how fast she runs as King Ken runs.

in japan wrote:

El Keniano wrote:

So, debuts for both Mesret Defar AND Linet Masai. Who you got?

Defar is one of the greatest women runners ever. This is way overdue, and I'm almost as excited to see how fast she runs as King Ken runs.

I have a feeling that a hefty appearance fee is a reason she is running. Seems like that has been the case for a few years. She seems to run one or two road races a year and nothing else. Although she did get a silver in the 3000m at 2016 Indoor World Champs in Portland.

Meseret Defar

Moo Knows wrote:

Aussiestatman wrote:

Ozbilen is a 1500 runner, do you nominate your own times to get a guernsey?

Sure, why not?

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guernsey_cattle

Is a guernsey a uniquely Aussie expression meaning a shirt?

Meseret.

Aussiestatman wrote:

Is a guernsey a uniquely Aussie expression meaning a shirt?

Yes.

Jersey and Guernsey are both islands in the English Channel famed for the hard-wearing water-resistant woolen jumpers/jerseys that the fishwives used to knit for their seagoing menfolk.

These practical outdoor garments, Jersey sweaters/Guernsey jumpers, were popularly used as sportswear in the nineteenth century. So by extension their name is used throughout the English-speaking world for tops in team colors.

For whatever reason, people from normal countries say Jersey. Aussies use Guernsey and it baffles everybody else.